Crossing for railway-tracks



L. V. THOMAS.

CROSSING FOR RAILWAY TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1919.

1,331,831; Patented Feb. 24,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ZlZT/zomaa L. V. THOMAS.

CROSSING FOR RAILWAYTRACKS.

APPLICATION F|LED JUNE 26, 19-19- I 1 1,331,831. Patented Feb. 24,1920.

4/ ow H M5 n J. I/f/zamaa anowup nnirnn STATES PATENT orr cn.

Lns'rEBv. THOMAS; or ivnooeno'c'nns'; TEXAS.

cnos'si'ne ron'nAILwAY-rnAcK-s.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lns'rnr; V. THOMAS, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Naway tracks.

One object of this invention is to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of devices of this character by providingan improved pivotally mounted rail bridge which is out of the way of passingtrains when in its open position, and in'uaroved abutnients which keep the bridge alined with the rail, of which the abutments are ele ments.

A further object is to provide an improved device of-this character which is very strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages niayb econie apparent to persons who read the following details of description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating two rails crossing at right angles to one an other, one of said rails comprising my improved bridge.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the higher rail in transverse vertical section, the lower rail being shown in full lines, in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section.

Fig. i is a detail View partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, this view showing the interlocking relation of the crossed rails, and also showing my improved bridge in position over the lower one of the crossed rails.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view partly in section illustrating one of the interior surfaces which outline the gap in the higher rail, the section being taken at the middle of the gap.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but

illustrating a modified form in which the rails cross oneanother diagonally.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views a railway rail 7 is formed with a Specification bf Letterslatnt; P t nte eb; 4,1925;

Application ifiled 11111926, 1919; Serial No. 306,801.

gap 8 which extends transversely through its base flange and terminates in its web. A higher ra1l9 is formed with a gap 10 which extends transversely across the headof-this' rail and terminates in the web thereof. The gap 10 receives the headof the rail'7 in its intermediate portion, and this intermediate portion is sufficiently wide to provide clearance for the fhnges of passing earwheels, such clearance being indica-ted'ait 11. Moreover, the gap 10 is; formed with shelves 12 which are flush with the top of therail 7. Betweenthe shelves 12 and the upper surface of the rail 9, the latter is provided with arched surfaces 13 which terminate in shoulders 14, between which the ends of abridge 15 are seated. The bridge 15 is provided with .concaved lower surfaces 16 9 which-fit over the convened surfaces 13, so that lateral -n1ovement of the bridge is avoided- The lower surface of the bridge 15 is preferably plane, and the ends of this plane surface rest on th'e shelves 12, while the interme} diate portion of the bridge may rest-on the track .7 althoughthe shelves 12-are sufficient to support the bridge independentlynfthe track 7.

in order that the bridge 15 may be united with the rail 9 in such relation that it be quickly and easily moved into and out of the gap 10, a link or lever 17 is pivotally connected to the bridge at 18 and pivotally connected to the track 9 at 19, on-the side of the track 9 opposite to that on which the wheel flanges run. The link 17 is preferably of the angular shape shown in Fig. 3, so that its pivotal connection 19 is at a relatively low point on the rail 9, while its upper edge 20 is substantially level and flush with the top of the rail 9. Moreover, the ends of the normally level part of the link 17 may extend somewhat beyond the ends of the bridge 15, so that the car wheels ride upon these portions of the link slightly before they come to the bridge 15, to insure that the bridge is properly seated when the car wheels are thereon. This feature is useful because of the jarring and consequent bouncing up and down of the rails as the wheels roll therealong' i As the link 17 is pivoted to the bridge at 18, the latter may be disposed in a horizontal the top of the track 9 to interfere with or be interfered with by trains which pass along the track 7 Referring to the construction shown in Fig. 6, the bridge 15 and its connection with the rails 7 and 9' are substantially the same as previously described for the other figures in the drawings; The embodiment disclosed in Fig. 6 diflers only from the previously described embodiment in the angles at which the rails are crossed.

In both embodiments of the invention, a bed-plate may be provided, the same being indicated at 20 in Fig. 4, and at 20 in Fig. 6, these bed plates being provided with shouldersQl between which the base flanges of the rails are seated.

Although I have described this embodiment of my invention very specifically, it is not intended to limit this invention to these exact details of construction and arrange ment of parts, but changes may be made I within the scope of the inventive idea as scribed and claimed herein.

' What I claim as my invention is:

1. A railway-rail having a gap extending transversely through its head and terminating in its web, said rail comprising upwardly arched surfaces terminating in shoulders at the upper part of the gap, and

- abridge having concaved faces ad apted'to fit upon said arched surfaces while its ends are between said shoulders.

2. A railway-rail having a gap'extending transversely through its head and terminating in its web, said rail comprising up- Wardly arched surfaces terminating in shoulders at the upper part of the gap, said rail also comprising a horizontal plane sur face at a lowerlevel than sald arched surfaces, and abridge having concaved surfaces and a plane surface, said bridge being adapted to be seated in said gap so that itsconcaved surfaces fit upon said arched surfaces while its plane surface rests upon said horizontal plane surface. V r

3. The combination of a railway-rail having a gap extendingtransversely through its base and terminating in its web, a higher rallway rail having a gap extending transversely through its head and terminatingvin its web, said railway rails being fitted together in transverse relation with their webs interlocking and the head of the first said railin the gap of said higher rail, a removable bridge to close the gap of saidhigher rail, a bar pivotally'connected to the higher 7 rail and carrying said bridge, said bar having portions extending past the ends of the Madge and being substantially flush with the top of the head of the higher rail.

V In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' LESTER v. THOMAS- 

